Eternal message & guidance
By Shahjahan Akhtar
THE Muslim Ummah is in disarray. We Muslims are to be blamed for the present state of affairs. The main cause of this can be attributed to the fact that Muslims generally recite the Holy Quran like a parrot, without understanding it and do not follow what is ordained in it.
The Quran is a unique book, with eternal message and universal relevance. It contains the foundation of an entire system of life, from specific articles of faith and commandments to general moral teachings, rights and obligations, crime and punishment, personal and public law and a number of private and social concerns. These issues are described in a variety of ways, such as direct stipulations, reminders of Allah’s favours on His creation, admonitions and rebukes. Stories of past communities are narrated, followed by the lessons to be learned from their actions and subsequent fates.
Thus, it becomes incumbent on all those who call themselves Muslim, to recite the Quran regularly, understand it and follow what is ordained therein.
The Holy Quran, with 114 suras, of which 86 were revealed in Makkah over a period of 13 years and 28 in Madinah during the next 10 years, containing 666 verses and forming 30 chapters, was revealed over a period of 23 Lunar years on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Let us see what Allah tells about the Holy Quran. Allah takes responsibility to teach Quran to the Prophet. “By degrees shall we teach thee (the message), so thou shalt not forget, except as Allah wills; for he knoweth what is manifest and what is hidden. And we shall make it easy for thee (to follow) the simple path.” (87:608).
Allah tells the Holy Prophet “thus have we sent this down — an Arabic Quran — and explained in detail some of the warnings.... be not in haste with the Quran before its revelation to thee is completed.” (20:113-114).
In Sura 75: 16-19, Allah asks the Prophet “Move not thy tongue concerning the Quran to make haste therewith. It is for US to collect it and recite it..... it is for US to explain it (the make it clear.)
“So have we made the Quran easy in thine own tongue, that with it thou mayest give glad tidings to the righteous, and warnings to people given to contention. (19:97).
Quran is divided into parts by Allah thus: “It is a Quran which We have divided (into parts from time to time), in order that thou mightest recite it to people at intervals: We have revealed it by stages. (17:106)
Allah made the Quran clear and easy to understand “These are the Ayats of Revelations, of a Quran that makes things clear. (15:1) These are verses of the Book, that makes things clear. (26:2, and the same repeated in 27:1, 28:2, 43:2). “By the Book that makes things clear; we have made it a Quran in Arabic, that ye may be able to understand.” (43:3)
“Had We sent this as a Quran (in a language) other than Arabic, they would have said: ‘Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! a foreign (tongue) and a Messenger an Arab?’ Say, it is a guide and a healing to those who believe; and for those who believe not, there is a deafness in their ears, and it is blindness (in their eyes): they are (as it were) being called from a place far distant.” (41:44)
There is no twist crookedness in the Quran: “Praise to be Allah, Who hath sent to His servants the Book, and hath allowed therein no crookedness. He hath made it straight and clear .... (18:1-2)
Two types of verses are in Quran: “He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses, ‘Muhakamat’— basic or fundamental, clear (in meaning), they are the foundation of the Book. Others - ‘Mutashabayat’ — not entirely clear. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is not entirely clear (‘Mutashabayat’); Seeking discord, and searching for its interpretation, but no one knows its true meaning except Allah. (3:7)
The way to study/recite the Holy Quran: “Those to whom we have given the book study it as it should be studied.” (2:121) “And recite the Quran in low measured rhythmic tones.” (73:4) “Read ye, as much of the Quran, as may be easy (for you).” (73:20)
The best time to recite the Quran is this directed: And the recital of Quran at ‘fajr’ (early morning) is ‘mashood’ (witnessed). (17:78)
It is (Quran) for all the worlds and all times. “Verily, this is not less than a message to all the worlds.” (81:27)
The Quran is preserved and guarded by Allah: “We have without doubt, sent down the Message; And We will assuredly guard it. (15:9) “Nay, this is a glorious Quran, (inscribed) in tablet preserved.” (85:21-22)
From the above ayats, it can be summarised that:
The Quran, in the form we have for the last over 1400 years, was finally compiled as per instructions received from Allah, and it is preserved in a tablet with Him.
Allah tells in the Quran that it is clear and straight to understand.
The Quran has withstood the test of time. Since its revelation efforts have been made by non-believers to mock it, corrupt it, destroy it, give different meanings to ayats but the Quran has remained unchanged over the last 14 centuries in its present form.
Recitation of the Quran in the language it was revealed is also an act of worship. But its meaning must be understood in the language one knows and obey the commandments contained therein implicitly. On the last day of judgment everybody will be judged according to ones’ deeds.
And Allah tells: “This is the Book (the Quran), in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those, who fear Allah, who believe in unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out what We have provided for them; And who believe in Revelation, sent to thee and sent before thy time and in their hearts have the assurance of Hereafter”. And Allah promises, that, “They are on true guidance from their Lord and it is these who will prosper”. (2:1-5)
Thus, the Quran is not a Book to be kept, wrapped in velvety covers, in upper most hard to reach shelves ‘or only to be used for keeping on the head of a bride when departing after ‘nikah’ for her new home.
May Allah show us “the straight way, the way of those on whom He has bestowed His grace, those whose portion is not wrath, and who did not go astray”.Amen